USC quarterback Shaw bounces back from injury

Tuesday

Oct 1, 2013 at 12:01 AMOct 2, 2013 at 12:26 AM

Boiling Springs product Dylan Thompson still might get the first chance under center vs. Kentucky on Saturday, with Connor Shaw nursing a sore shoulder that was originally thought to be a 2-3 week injury.

By MATT CONNOLLYmatthew.connolly@shj.com

COLUMBIA — On Sunday, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said starting quarterback Connor Shaw would likely be out 2-3 weeks. Just two days later, the Head Ball Coach said it appears as though the senior may not miss any time at all.Speaking at his press conference on Tuesday, Spurrier said Shaw practiced Monday night and looked fine after leaving Saturday's game against UCF with an injury to his throwing shoulder, adding that Shaw threw a pass 55 yards at one point during the practice.“It looks like he's going to be healthy now and able to play,” Spurrier said. “I don't know who will start yet. We'll sort of wait on that.”Former Boiling Springs quarterback Dylan Thompson would start in Shaw's place on Saturday night against Kentucky.Spurrier said USC feared the worst when Shaw was forced to leave the game.“He's a tough guy, very tough guy. He obviously must have had a lot of pain with the hit the last game because when he came off the field it looked like he was out for the season,” Spurrier said. “Now he's in pretty good shape. Connor's a very tough kid that wants to play, and he should be ready to play this week.”While Carolina could get Shaw back, it will have to play without starting receiver Shaq Roland for two more games.Roland missed the UCF game due to a “university suspension,” and Spurrier said he will miss the next two weeks before returning at Tennessee.The Gamecocks also will likely be without starting center Cody Waldrop, who sprained an ankle at UCF.With Waldrop out, Carolina will once again turn to redshirt freshman Clayton Stadnik, who played in Waldrop's place at Georgia and against Vanderbilt.Backup running back Brandon Wilds also is out after dislocating his elbow against UCF and will be replaced by either Shon Carson or David Williams.Williams, a freshman, appeared to be a redshirt candidate but Spurrier said Tuesday he will likely play against the Wildcats.While Williams is one of the only young guys on offense likely to see playing time on Saturday, the Gamecocks will have plenty of youth on the defensive sidr.Spurrier hopes his young defense, which has struggled at times this season, will play better after allowing eight plays of at least 18 yards against UCF. Spurrier said missed tackles led to many of the long gains.“Fundamentals is what you try to teach. Obviously we're still teaching it,” Spurrier said. “We can tackle the dummy out there (at practice). The dummy sits there, you run up and you tackle the dummy. A lot of our guys are still going high; then we've got guys just diving in there. They're not fundamentally sound.”Spurrier added that as coaches they need to do a better job.“We've got athletes. These kids can run and play,” he said. “They don't play real smart all the time and that's called coaching.”